We’ve been thrilled with 45-15 calendar
In an effort to try new programs to make the education system in Warren County the best it can be, two years ago the Warren County School Board authorized a pilot program at Bobby Ray Elementary to test the 45-15 school calendar. As the board now considers whether this calendar will be beneficial to the entire system, it has the luxury of being able to examine the pilot program to assess the success of the 45-15 calendar.
As parents of two Bobby Ray students, we were skeptical when the program was first proposed. However, we are now avid supporters of the 45-15 calendar. No one is claiming this calendar alone is going to produce county-wide perfect scores and stellar students; however, our observations at Bobby Ray indicate this calendar does produce an environment very conducive to learning.
We have noticed an increased enthusiasm among the students and teachers, and are told that discipline problems have noticeably decreased. In addition, teachers state they spend considerably less time at the beginning of the school year reviewing the previous year lessons, leaving more time for teaching new material. While these items are hard to quantify, the end result is an improved educational environment for our kids.
Parents we know at Bobby Ray share our approval of this calendar. The nine-week instruction periods are an appropriate length to keep the enthusiasm for learning strong, and the three-week breaks give our kids ample time to recharge before starting another nine-week instruction period. The six-week summer vacation is long enough for summertime fun without stretching into boredom. Our kids go to school for the same 180 days as the other kids in the county and still have plenty of time to participate in sports, scouts, and other extracurricular activities.
The decision of which school calendar is best for our county should be based on facts and on what is best for our children. We implore the Board of Education to examine the results of the pilot program implemented at Bobby Ray when making this decision.
Nick and Susan Gawel
Collinwood Drive
McMinnville